Tips

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Tip #82


Personal Protection Act, Reality Bites, Preparedness, Local Events & Stupid Criminals

       Good evening Folks. Jon Gutmacher October 1, 2005, seminar reference the "Protection of Persons and Property Act" was simply outstanding!   There is absolutely no doubt in my mind as well as the other 175 persons in attendance why Jon is the expert in concealed weapon matters. After his presentation, Jon responded to questions from the attendees and then autographed books for his many fans. We had an unexpected bonus that Saturday. Randy "Macho Man" Savage joined Jon, signed autographs and greeted his many fans. Unfortunately the media presence was anemic with the exception of News Channel 8, Bay News 9 and WN Women's News. For these three outlets, you have my sincere gratitude and pledge to assist with questions and concerns in the self-defense arena. Oh well, I guess the other media resources much prefer to remain uneducated and biased -- their usual approach to life! If you missed the seminar, please be sure to review Jon's analysis of the new act on his website, www.FloridaFirearmsLaw.com. FYI, Jon just released his Sixth Edition of 'Florida Firearms - Law, Use & Ownership' due to the major changes resulting from the new act. The book price is only $26.95 and is a great gift for family, friends and yourself. In my opinion, if you have the Fourth Edition, it is past time to buy a new book my friends!
       Please don't forget -- the holiday season is approaching rapidly. Rather than go to the mall and deal with all that shopping crap, why not consider a personalized gift certificate? Major Norm Belson, Inc. certificates may be used for CWP classes, Self Defense classes, Tactical classes, Junior Shooting classes, class package deals, Coronado Leather products to include special orders, Guardsman alarm systems, Mylar glass protection and home and business security surveys. I have a great selection of Coronado Leather concealed carry products in stock at Knight Shooting Sports and will offer an extra 20% discount off the sale price (red tag) on those items through December 25, 2005. All you have to do is present a copy of Tip #82 to receive your extra 20% off the marked sales price. Of course, please don't forget that Knight Shooting Sports also offers gift certificates for all kinds of products to include range time, security devices, and ammunition and so on. As usual, I am going to review some recent local events that should give you food for thought. See you at Knight Shooting Sports!   Tnx  Norm & Jane 727-535-9151
       PS -- Remember, if I may assist with either training or security concerns, please give me a call or drop me a note! FYI, I am conducting CWP classes November 13 & 19 and December 2, 11 & 17. A Ladies Only CWP class is scheduled for December 18. Tactical classes are scheduled for November 12 & December 4 and Advanced Tactical classes November 20 and December 10. By the way, if you have previously completed the Advanced Tactical class (draw from the holster), please see the cashier at Knight Shooting Sports. They will have a new waiver for you to sign as well as a new range ID card so that you may resume drawing from the holster without supervision. That new card must be approved by Ed Martenfeld so please be aware that you may have to pick it up at a later date. Please give me a call at 727-535-9151 if any questions.

Reality Bites

       I have to admit that October has been an interesting month. I met a lot of folks at Knight Shooting Sports, all potential students you betcha, within that 31 day period. One couple was taking a nap in their home in the middle of the afternoon. Unfortunately, they failed to lock the front door. The wife was awakened by a noise in their bedroom, looks up and sees a burglar in their bedroom. He sees her looking at him, grabs her purse and runs out the door. This is called an 'Occupied Residential Burglary' and often results in death, great bodily injury or a sexual crime or any combination of the above. This scumbag is a mutt that I would be worried about. A 'normal burglar' would leave quickly as soon as he discovered an occupant. He was 'snooping & pooping' in their bedroom with the husband present. What is so dadgum difficult about locking doors & windows?   Another customer is involved in a construction business with his buddy. The buddy has a habit of paying their employees in cash and always leaves for the job sites at 6AM on payday. He walks out to his car that payday, notices a strange vehicle parked in front of his neighbor's house, disregards same and bends down to pick up his newspaper. The next sound is three car doors slamming and running feet. Ooops -- three scumbag armed robbers with SKS and AK47 rifles introduce themselves -- to the company payroll! Aren't habits great? Adios $30,000! Another victim is servicing his route and becomes engrossed in working inside his vehicle with his back exposed to the street in a position that provided a covert approach. At least two scumbags sneak up behind him and introduce themselves by sticking a gun in his back -- say good-bye to those days’ receipts! All of the above occurred in Pinellas County my friends. I always follow the combat pilot rules of watch your six (butt) because if you don't, someone may stick a firearm up that Six and we all know that the sun never shines there!

Ugly Local Event - Round Two
"Intruder rapes, robs Dunedin woman, 87" St. Petersburg Times September 21, 2005

       Remember this event from Tip #81? Well, here is a similar dastardly crime committed against a 77-year-old man in Pasco County October 7, 2005. He also left his garage door as well as the door into his house open at 1PM. Here is the headline as it appeared in the October 8, 2005, edition of the St. Petersburg Times:

"Home invader beats Pasco County man, 77" St. Petersburg Times October 8, 2005

       In this case, this reprehensible scumbag pepper sprayed his victim, beat him severely about his head and then ransacked the elderly victim's home. Let's review burglary stats once again and at least make the animals have to work to get into our homes! You think this behavior is uncommon my friends? Very simply disproved -- just take a look around as you drive through residential areas. The number of open garage doors is amazing. My analysis of 350 residential burglaries in Clearwater revealed that:
       1. most residential burglaries occur between 8AM -- 4PM (185 or 52.86%) -- the residents are away from home or engaged in normal daytime activities and functions! One was at 8AM and one was at 1PM!
       2. Almost half (169 or 48.29%) of the burglars entered through an unlocked door, window, garage or slider -- the  majority of burglars will select the easiest, quickest and most quiet entry. If force is used, the 'burglar tools' will be  common yard or household items found at the scene of the crime. Burglars do not like to have burglar tools on or about their person for obvious reasons! Both of these attackers were aided by open garage doors!
       3. Glass was defeated in many instances (69 or 38.12%) in those residences where force was used to gain entry -- glass is always the weakest part of a locked home or business. Mylar fixes that problem at a reasonable price as well as serving as excellent retro fit solution for hurricanes and unexpected storms! Why break in when you can walk in?
       4. More than one-quarter (97 or 27.71%) of the homes were either occupied at the time of the entry or the  resident(s) returned home while the burglary was in progress -- I define 'good' burglars as those that are interested in  property and either choose another target or flee immediately if the target is occupied or becomes occupied while  'bad' burglars are those that don't care if occupied. I consider to those scumbags to be targeting the occupants rather than their  property! Both of these were known to have been occupied and the residents specifically attacked!
        5. Nearly 10.0% (29 of 350) of the burglars either brought weapons with them or armed themselves after entry -- this is a scumbag that you should respect and fear because if he is stupid enough, brazen enough, crazy enough or  so high on mind altering substances or any combination thereof that he ignores the fact that Armed Burglary is a Capital Offense, he might be willing to use that weapon! The rapist had a knife!
         6. Ten (2.86%) of the burglaries involved some type of sexual attack or overtone -- I don't believe that all  burglaries with sexual overtones were specifically planned that way but occurred more as a crime of opportunity! One case involved the rape of a helpless female!
         7. Persons known to be either workers or visitors (21 or 6.00%) committed these burglaries -- I  feel that there is more of this type burglary than reported simply because the scumbags were not identified! It appears that the 77-year-old man was being cased over a period of time but not sure if either victim had previous contact with the cowardly POS's that attacked them!
         8. Stinking burglars are prototypical scumbag cockroaches as demonstrated when the home intrusion alarm was   activated (3 of the 350 reported burglaries) and the little insects broke off their forced entry attempt and fled back to whatever cesspool or  slimy rock they called home! Alarm system presence and status unknown -- how about a nice panic button? The Guardsman has one!

       Please remember these old United States Army Infantry credos:
             1. You protect from the outside in and defend from the inside out -- slow them down by layering your passive defenses, hardening the target and buy the time you need to gather your family, arm yourself and get law enforcement enroute. Of course, you will have to make sure your family stays alive long enough to be "rescued" by law enforcement!
             2. It is easier to keep them out then to throw them out -- based on my combat experience, you may have to eject some piece of human waste that doesn't want to leave. You now have a real problem!
            
       Please feel free to give me a call if I may assist! I simply do not want to go to any more crime scenes. Twenty-five years of that crap culminating in the tragedy next door is enough already!

Disaster Preparedness

       One of my clients asked me what Jane and I do to prepare for hurricanes, natural disasters and civil unrest. This seems like a very important topic particularly after the last two storm seasons. Hurricane Katrina's impact in New Orleans was very revealing. Of course, in my opinion, New Orleans was only 30 minutes away from a state of anarchy in normal times -- it appeared that it only took about 15 minutes for civilization in New Orleans to hit the revolving object in the ceiling when the nitty got gritty. I take a boy scout's approach -- we are always basically prepared to survive on our own with no notice for at least two to three weeks. We have a complete disaster kit (water, first aid kits, non-refrigerated food items, canned & bottled drinks, candles, spare batteries for all devices, emergency radios & TV (hand cranked dynamo as well as battery operated), a generator, a filled swimming pool, tarpaulins, extra fuel containers, structural safeguards for our home (Mylar for the windows and a retro fitted garage door reinforcement kit), maintain half-full gasoline tanks for our cars (transportation and cell phone charging), an emergency weather radio, an alarm system not dependent on electric power (the Guardsman system operates perfectly well for extended periods just using regular 9 Volt batteries) and guns and ammo -- I know that must be a big surprise! It may also be worthwhile to request a copy of a pamphlet named "Preparing Makes Sense. Get ready now" published by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security. The booklet is free and addresses planning and preparing an emergency kit. The packet may be obtained in either English or Spanish by writing to Preparing Makes Sense, Pueblo, CO 81009 or calling 1-888-878-3256 (8AM to 8PM Monday through Friday). Hope this helps my friends.

Local Events
"A shove, a fall, and her Explorer was gone" St. Petersburg Times October 15, 2005

       St. Petersburg recorded their 35th carjacking so far this year on October 7, 2005. The victim in this case was a 72-year-old woman who was attacked at 3PM near the Bed, Bath & Beyond on 66th Street N. when she returned to her car to pick up an item to be returned to another store. This 'Hero' rushes her, knocks her to the ground, steals her keys and car and takes off. Fortunately she only suffered sore ribs and a bruised hand but her peace of mind was shattered -- her key ring also had her house keys and her address of course is probably available on her registration in the glove box. Fortunately, she followed the investigating officer’s advice and immediately changed all her locks. Well, at least the carjacker was arrested after a high speed pursuit and charged with carjacking, fleeing & eluding and DUI. Would you be surprised if this 35-year-old mutt had a lengthy arrest record? Sure you would -- he does!

"Boyfriend, 18, shoots girl, 15, in her face"  St. Petersburg Times October 20, 2005

       This is a classic Stupid Discharge event involving a scumbag 18-year-old punk with an extensive juvenile criminal history who somehow or other obtains a 9MM handgun, the 15-year-old girl plays hooky from school to go to his apartment to hang out, he is playing with the 'empty' gun, thinks the safety is on (it isn't, pulls the trigger and shoots the girl in the face. The bullet hits her in the nose, travels into her jaw, and knocks out five teeth and then splinters. She of course is in critical condition and needs multiple serious surgeries to include removal of fragments from her spinal cord. Of course, junior scumbag is arrested and charged with delinquent in possession of a firearm. I'll also bet that the firearm was reported stolen during a burglary so there will be an Armed Battery in the lad's future! Please remember the five steps that I advocate for clearing an auto loading pistol -- remove the magazine, lock the slide to the rear, visually inspect the magazine well, visually inspect the chamber and then stick the little finger of your non-shooting hand into the chamber. If you feel a hole -- the gun is truly unloaded!

Stupid Criminals

       I must admit that this is my favorite part of the newsletter. I take great comfort in the fact that the overwhelming majority of scumbags are dumber than dog dirt. Here are a few examples:
       In Davie, Florida, this scumbag rapes a woman and forces her to write a $1,400 check in his real name. Of course, this brain surgeon goes to a nearby check cashing store to receive his $1400. The clerk calls the victim who is being interviewed by the police at her apartment. Next thing you know, a surprised rapist is in custody! St. Petersburg Times, October 22, 2005     
      
Talk about paranoia! This Largo mental giant sees a helicopter late at night, thinks the police are searching for him and dives into a storm drain near 113th Street and Walsingham Road. He crawls about three-quarters of a mile through the muck and mire and tries to exit through a grate at Seminole Boulevard and 122nd Avenue. By now he has been in the drainage system for hours and can't get out. About 9:10AM, he attracts the attention of a passerby who calls 911 and dummy's brother. They finally remove him from the drain and he starts to try and explain why he is in the drain and gives his brother's name to the police. Of course, his brother is standing there talking to the police and he had already given the police his real name. Oops! This stinking mess of humanity did have two misdemeanor arrest warrants and was then arrested for obstructing justice! St. Petersburg Times, October 15, 2005
      
Stupid is as stupid does! This scumbag rapes a woman in Seminole after drugging her. He is having such a good time apparently that he decides to make a videotape of his conquest. During the rape, the poor victim wakes up and recognizes her attacker so he flees the scene pausing just long enough to recover his videotape of the crime. You guessed it -- when arrested this moron still had the tape. Should be great for Show & Tell during his trial!   St. Petersburg Times, October 15, 2005
      
This husband and wife team of marijuana growers in Clarkston, Washington, clearly demonstrates that dumb criminals are not restricted to Florida. They are growing their dope in their backyard when they are startled by a group of officers who run into their neighbor's backyard. They panic thinking it's a drug raid. The husband starts ripping out marijuana plants and throwing them over the fence into their neighbor's yard. One of the plants lands on an officer's head and you guessed this one also -- busted! In San Jacinto, Texas, a 21-year-old punk is arrested for armed robbery. He attempts to escape by diving head first through some bushes near a convenience store. Unbeknownst to this super criminal, there is a concrete wall behind the bushes. It is always easier to handcuff a criminal AFTER he knocks himself out! I call that using your head!   Tampa Weekly Planet, October 26 - November 1, 2005

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